Does anyone else think name-calling is childish?

It makes me angry when the right-wingers use 'Democrat' as an adjective, or when I read something like "LIEberal" or "DemocRAT." By the same token, it irks me when someone uses "Rethug," "Repuke," or "Repug."

Seriously, folks, aren't we supposed to be the grown-ups in this country? We gripe about the MSM, and their childish, sound-bite news coverage, and rightfully so. Our political discourse should be about who has the best ideas, not who can come up with the most derogatory nicknames for the other side. That's the kind of thinking that put George Bush in the Oval Office.

Well, that and all the votes they stole, but y'know what I mean. That's the race car ya-ya level of thinking. We can do better.

Sorry...I couldn't resist. :evilgrin:

Yes, I do tire of the name calling.

It's the fastest way to diminish your argument.

:hi:

My thoughts on the subject: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1491482&mesg_id=1491501

#1 is sarcasm -- a highly overrated way to communicate eg. saying what you DON'T think
#2 name calling

The most persuasive arguments rely on facts and refutation. Name calling just alerts the reader that writer is perhaps blinded by hatred and therefore weakens the points they attempt to get across.

I have to admit that sometimes the names the very creative people on this board come up with make me laugh out loud.

to the party of coruption or their supporters. Nor can I show respect to GW Bush by calling him GW Bush, lord pissy pants fits him better. Childish? Maybe, but then who really wants to grow up more then the age to do adult type things?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1118122

Should the Admins stop "Top 10 Idiots," because they are calling people idiots? If you don't like something, then don't do it. But telling other people not to let off steam and vent isn't going to work. Personally, I will still call them rethugs as long as their behavior is thug-like in nature.







On a different topic, what exactly is the "race-car ya-ya?" Seriously, I've never heard it before. :shrug:

Track #6 on their 1996 album Fashion Nugget. The song is a vague complaint about the "land of race car ya-yas," which I associate with the Bible Belt. To me a racecar ya-ya is an undeducated and uncritical believer in all the religious and partiotic lies promulgated by the Republicans, and the kind of person who enjoys calling others names well into adulthood.

Personally, I wouldn't have used "Top Ten Conservative Idiots," but I don't care that the column has a stupid name because the content is thoughtful and funny.

Being from Charlotte, I would consider someone calling me a "race car ya-ya" an insult in itself

I know many race fans who are liberals. Cake and the original message writer need to expand their horizons.

Like I said, the song is really vague, so I guess the qualities I described are my own extrapolation. I really have no choice but to admit that "racecar ya-ya" was a baldly hypocritical thing to say and including it undermined my entire argument. As much as I want to rationalize, I don't have a leg to stand on. I apologize.

:eyes:

It didn't occur to me until after I made the post, and I was hoping nobody would catch that. I don't really know what to say in defense of that.

And if you'd refer to these very same people as bushbots or kool-aid drinkers, I wouldn't begrudge you because the point is, these people make people like me crazy with their utter stupidity and inability to vote in their own self-interest.

:hi:

No offense meant, I know we all have our own ways of talking- but when I see the nickname stuff, I start to skim.

...I'll leave off with the name-calling.

Isn't it?

Tell him what he's won Don Pardo...

At least not on the level of "repuke." I see a big difference between legitimate criticism and mere nastiness. And until someone can convince me that names like Dumbya somehow elevate the level of discussion or make some sort of useful contribution, I stand by my criticism as legitimate.

We used to call it "gooking." Gooks were what our soldiers called the Vietnamese to make them easier to kill. Names like that are purposely used to dehumanize the "enemy."

Some of our fellow Americans are Republicans. We don't like the way they think. But they are as human as we are and that includes the ones who call themselves "freepers."

Unless we are deliberately prepping them for future slaughter, we might want to remember that our fellow Americans ARE Americans and ARE human beings.

"He drew a circle that shut me out Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout But love and I had the wit to win; We drew a circle that took him in."
Edwin Markham

We are one country, even when we're screaming at each other.

I couldn't even imagine taking it to actual heart when I read on another board the term "DemocRAT". Does it seriously make you angry?

I can only hope that you find a way to cope though, cause a thread like this ain't gonna make it stop from either side any time soon.

minority of people who actually care about politics in this country, most would rather rely on tactics like name-calling than apply real critical thinking. I'm not so fragile as to be personally offended; in my mind, this sort of rhetoric is one more demonstration of a much deeper problem with our democracy. Perhaps I'm conflating the issue, but that's what name-calling says to me.

that they don't apply real critical thinking. There are plenty of people who do quite a bit of work, both for a living and volunteer, and who are able to think critically, but who blow off a little steam or vent while here at DU.

But, then again, you use"race-car ya-ya" to refer to the Bible Belt flag wavers. So, really, what is the difference? :shrug:

There are some things I don't find funny and others that crack me up. However, the weight of an argument or the thoughts of a person aren't defined for me by their use of neoCON or rethug.

The reason for the issue itself (name calling), is because ever since the 2000 election debacle, and steadily growing more ever since, politics and the sides of politics has become almost the same type of atmosphere as sports. It's just another sport now, and everyone's got their team to root for. It's quite sad to say, but it is that sort of sport team mentality that's permeating our politics right now that is responsible for more degeneration of political wisdom then anything else.

So the name calling itself is nothing more than typical sports minded trash talk. Same type of thing as a Devils fan tellin me "Rangers suck!". It's sad to say, but I don't see it changing any time real soon.

That's why I don't call anyone childish names.

But I do think you're concerned.

Oh, so very concerned.

When I encounter someone like that in other internet forums, I'll reply to their post and edit it so only those words remain, separated by "..." It looks hilarious and usually makes other users there see just how much of a juvenile the original poster really is.

Your concern is noted. :eyes:

I'm uncertain about the level of concern voiced here concerning the concern.

Do you concur regarding the sudden onset concern?

Hmmmm........

It's just not in my nature to use little nicknames like that, so I don't do it. But if others want to do it, more power to them.

the Eisenhower administration, the last decent Republican administration this country has seen.

Perhaps we don't want to dignify this band of thieves, reactionary radicals, delusional ideologues, and religious screwballs with the name the party of Lincoln bore.

Personally, I find language police more offensive than much of the language, itself.

well, fuck me.

that is just pure unadulterated douchebaggery...

:hide:

so don't worry about it. I don't care much for it either but since I don't (anymore or rarely) do it myself I don't sweat it.

Everyone has to deal with the anger and frustration in their own way.

Satisfying to be sure, but childish.

It's embarrassing to see DUers mirroring those who post at Free Republic, to say the least.

I'd rather laugh than cry.